Houston isn't in top 10 metros with worst traffic congestion

Carrie Taylor, Houston Chronicle

Updated 1:36 pm, Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Photo: George Rose, Getty Images

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According to a study released by Kirkland, Wash.-based data firm INRIX, Houston's traffic congestion ranks at No. 20 in North America among large metros. Check out how the city fared compared to other American and Canadian cities.

Note: The following areas are ranked in terms of their overall
congestion, not just hours wasted due to traffic jams. less

According to a study released by Kirkland, Wash.-based data firm INRIX, Houston's traffic congestion ranks at No. 20 in North America among large metros. Check out how the city fared compared to other American ... more

Photo: George Rose, Getty Images

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50. Worcester

– 9.9 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: Same

50. Worcester

– 9.9 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: Same

Photo: Boston Globe, Getty Images

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49. Cincinnati

– 11.6 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 48

49. Cincinnati

– 11.6 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 48

Photo: Andy Lyons, Getty Images

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48. Riverside

– 14.7 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 49

48. Riverside

– 14.7 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 49

Photo: Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images

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47. Raleigh

– 12.1 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 40

47. Raleigh

– 12.1 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 40

Photo: Twbuckner/flickr

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46. Pittsburgh

– 13 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: Same

46. Pittsburgh

– 13 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: Same

Photo: Sarah L. Voisin, Getty Images

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45. Jacksonville

– 12.5 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: Same

45. Jacksonville

– 12.5 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: Same

Photo: Selectashot.com

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44. New Orleans

– 13.1 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 34

44. New Orleans

– 13.1 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 34

Photo: Cheryl Gerber, Getty Images

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43. Ottawa

– 12.6 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 47

43. Ottawa

– 12.6 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 47

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42. Sacramento

– 13.8 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 41

42. Sacramento

– 13.8 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 41

Photo: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

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41. Las Vegas

– 12.7 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 44

41. Las Vegas

– 12.7 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 44

Photo: Matt York, AP

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40. Phoenix

– 14 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 43

40. Phoenix

– 14 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 43

Photo: Richard Ellis, Getty Images

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39. San Antonio

– 13.4 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 38

39. San Antonio

– 13.4 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 38

Photo: Julysa Sosa / For The San Antonio Express-News

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38. Oxnard

– 13.2 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 37

38. Oxnard

– 13.2 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 37

Photo: Ed Compean, Getty Images

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37. Colorado Springs

- 12.1 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 53

37. Colorado Springs

- 12.1 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 53

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

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36. Detroit

– 14.6 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 35

36. Detroit

– 14.6 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 35

Photo: Bill Pugliano, Getty Images

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35. Providence

– 13.6 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 42

35. Providence

– 13.6 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 42

Photo: Darren McCollester, Getty Images

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34. Baton Rouge

– 14.7 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 29

34. Baton Rouge

– 14.7 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 29

Photo: Jerry Grayson/Helifilms Australi, Getty Images

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33. Milwaukee

– 13.2 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 36

33. Milwaukee

– 13.2 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 36

Photo: Visions Of America, Getty Images

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32. Nashville

– 16.3 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 33

32. Nashville

– 16.3 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 33

Photo: Jeff Gentner, Getty Images

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31. Hartford

– 15.5 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 32

31. Hartford

– 15.5 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 32

Photo: Christian Abraham, ST

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30. Orlando

– 18.2 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 31

30. Orlando

– 18.2 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 31

Photo: Lea, Getty Images

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29. Calgary

– 16.7 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 27

29. Calgary

– 16.7 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 27

Photo: George Rose, Getty Images

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28. Charlotte

– 19.0 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 30

28. Charlotte

– 19.0 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 30

Photo: Scott Olson, Getty Images

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27. Virginia Beach

– 18.3 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 25

27. Virginia Beach

– 18.3 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 25

Photo: Brendan Hoffman, Getty Images

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26. New Haven

– 19.5 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 28

26. New Haven

– 19.5 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 28

Photo: Christopher Capozziello, Getty Images

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25. Dallas

– 22.1 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 24

25. Dallas

– 22.1 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 24

Photo: Tom Pennington, Getty Images

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24. Atlanta

– 25.2 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 23

24. Atlanta

– 25.2 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 23

Photo: Barry Williams, Getty Images

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23. Tampa

– 21.5 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 22

23. Tampa

– 21.5 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 22

Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI

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22. Denver

– 23.3 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 26

22. Denver

– 23.3 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 26

Photo: Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

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21. Baltimore

– 23.3 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: Same

21. Baltimore

– 23.3 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: Same

Photo: Patrick Smith, Getty Images

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20. Houston

– 26.7 hours wasted in congestionRank in 2013: No. 19 (No. 17 in just the United States)

20. Houston

– 26.7 hours wasted in congestion
Rank in 2013: No. 19 (No. 17 in just the United States)

A study that ranks top cities around the world in terms of hours spent in traffic congestion - not to be confused with wreck-induced traffic jams - puts the Bayou City at No. 20 in North America. Houston drivers spend about 26.7 hours a year in congestion, although it may seem like more than that for some.

Two other Texas cities made the top 25 list. Austin takes the cake at No. 4 with the worst traffic congestion in the state (41.2 hours in congestion), and Dallas rounds out the list at No. 25 (22.1 hours in congestion).

INRIX, the group that conducted the study, names economic and job growth as main factors that contribute to increased traffic congestion.

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To view the traffic scorecard for the top 100 cities in North America, click here.